By Jonathan B Geddes

EASTWOOD halfback Lachie Albert has brought back a lot more than valuable experience to TG Millner Field after playing in the NPC with Southland last season.

He also recruited three of his Kiwi club teammates to join him at the Woodies this season.

After seven rounds of the Shute Shield hooker Jayden Henderson, his backrow brother Nick and outside back Cole Spinks have made their marks, with Eastwood currently sitting  in fourth spot on the ladder.

The three recruits, who all played for the 2024 premiership winning Star Rugby Club in Invercargill, have added valuable experience to what was a young squad last season when coach Dave Telfer blooded a lot of locals from the club’s Colts system.

Asked what the Henderson brothers have added to the team, Telfer told Rugby News: “Experience – and the thing I love about those guys is they won their club comp in New Zealand last year, so obviously they have brought a bit of winning mentality to our squad.”

He said they also provided a hard edge around the physical contact zones.

In the Stars’ grand final win over Pirates Old Boys last season the Otago Daily Times reported: “Fullback Cole Spinks proved a real handful for the POB defenders.”

And he is providing two other very valuable assets to the 2025 Woodies.  

“Cole is a goalkicker and I think he is kicking around 90 per cent at the moment,” Telfer said. “He is also very versatile and can cover any position from 10 to 15.”

TOP OF THE PROPS 

EASTWOOD has also bolstered their frontrow with the addition of international prop Isikeli Fukofuka.

In his first Shute Shield starting game in last Saturday’s 29-26 win over Manly, Fukofuka crashed over for a try.

The former Hunter Wildfires forward made his Test debut for Tonga against Italy last year.

“He has been an excellent team man coming into our squad and anyone who brings that international experience can only help our players develop as well,” Telfer said. “And he has the motivation to continue playing for his country as well which is important to us.”

NOT HALF BAD 

THE Woodies have very happy with No.9 Albert’s form after his stint in Southland which has clearly benefited his game.

“It was really good for him to go to New Zealand,” Telfer said. “You can see the game management and the improvement for sure.

“He has been a really good leader working in tandem with Tom Goddard our other halfback.” 

The 23-year-old graduate of Riverview College spent three seasons in the Brumbies system after leaving school.                

DANGER LURKING IN THE WOODS   

TELFER is happy with the progress of his side so far.

“If you said at the start of the season we would be in fourth position after seven rounds, we definitely would have taken it,” he said. “In hindsight we are looking at it going ‘we lost a couple of games pretty closely to Hunter and Norths, so we potentially feel we could be better’.”

On Saturday Eastwood face a potential ambush when they tackle the Two Blues at Eric Tweedale Stadium. Western Sydney showed what they are capable of by beating Sydney University 39-36 on the Students’ home ground last weekend.

“We always know it is going to be a tough game out there, especially after coming off their win over Sydney Uni,” Telfer said. “They have a lot of threats across the field,”